Verbal Pledges '09:

[gangrene]

Unfortunately, we are still sitting pretty with our goose egg. However, I don't believe we were actively pursuing any of these prospects.

From Dave Campbell's TF:

Verbal Pledges '09: Eight verbals given out over a busy weekend

06/16/2008

This is the complete list of 2009 verbal committments for all DI Texas colleges and in-state high school players who have committed to out-of-state programs. For our official list of 2008 signees, click here. For 2007-2005 signees, click here.

If you can find a busier recruiting weekend than the one that just finished up, then speak up. Short of signing day, it may not even be possible.

An unusually high eight high schoolers chose college destinations over the weekend, with a rather disproportionate number from the Metroplex area. Half chose in-state schools, and out of those, none picked Texas, A&M or Tech. There's a surplus of information here, so let’s get to it.

The most recent announcement was Southlake Carroll DE Brayden Burnett picking Missouri, which should immediately draw raised eyebrows from both Dragon and Tiger fans -- after all, there is a certain Southlake Carroll grad currently sporting the black and gold who's turning that program into a championship contender; his name is Chase Daniel or something. Burnett, one of the top defensive players on a Carroll program steeped in a tradition of excellence, will be looking to become part of another long-standing trend when he gets to Missouri: becoming part of the Tigers' long list of celebrated Texas-born players.

Staying within the Dallas area, SMU is reaping the benefits of having a head coach with national notoriety and has received two more verbal commitments, both from greater Metroplex area players: OL Christian Miller (Aledo) and QB Chris Frazier (Dallas Skyline). Miller is a great pickup for the Mustangs -- he was injured early on in 2007, which may have kept him off of recruiting boards at larger schools. He'll be another piece in SMU's seemingly constant efforts to build up depth along the offensive line. Frazier, on the other hand, is a bit more of an enigma for coach June Jones. He started at quarterback his sophomore year, than moved to WR (and FB, and TE) in 2007 when sophomore Javiar Hall and senior Troy Stoudermire (now at Minnesota) platooned under center. Frazier, a terrific athlete, will get another shot at quarterback this year if he can beat out Hall. If not, he'll be making plays just about everywhere else.

Baylor has also begun adding on to a small recruiting class and has secured it's second verbal in the last week, Dickinson QB/ATH Brody Trahan. A coach's son, Trahan missed eight games last year with an injury but still put up 700 passing yards and 8 touchdowns in the three games he started. If those numbers aren't enough to convince you, go back to 2006, when he burst onto the scene as a sophomore with 700 rushing yards, 1,807 passing yards and 31 total touchdowns. The 2008 season, which brings Dickinson up to 5A, should be a five-month scouting report on the young Trahan.

TCU is stockpiling athletes like they're going out of style and have gotten a verbal out of Copperas Cove WR Josh Boyce. For those who were there, Boyce was pretty good in last year's 4A DI championship game vs. Lamar Consolidated; he opened the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run and finished as the top offensive threat behind DI-signees Troy Vital (Idaho) and Robert Griffin (Baylor). He should be a great addition for the Horned Frogs, who are developing a WR group that is going to be terrorizing opposing defenses for years, and could be a conduit for TCU recruiters to get to another Dawg standout, LB Tanner Brock.

Here's where we get into the out-of-state commitments, and we’ll lead off with Georgia Tech, which has landed Austin LBJ WR Jeremy Moore. Moore, one of many DI caliber players on the Jaguars this year, is a prototype athlete for the wide receiver spot -- he's big and rangy (6-3) with terrific speed (4.4), and he has that explosive athleticism that can separate a good college player from a great one. He'll be playing in a very good offense this year at LBJ -- don't be surprised if he puts up monster numbers in his farewell tour with the Jaguars.

Out at Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane was still looking for its first Texas recruit after Euless Trinity LB Earnest Norman switched to Kansas, and now it has it: Garland WR Keith Blanton. Blanton didn't have massive numbers his junior year (30-404, 4 TDs), but he has incredible speed and should be a big reason why the Owls play better in 2008 than they did in a disappointing 2007 campaign. If it feels like Garland is pumping out athletes every year, it's because they are -- last year alone saw Owls sign with LSU, Oklahoma, Rice and Louisville. What a haul!

Lastly (finally!), the Cal Golden Bears are bringing in a blast from the past in Blinn CC/Dallas Madison LB Jarred Price. He's the first Blinn player to commit to a DI institution this year, but don't worry, they'll be more. Blinn never seems to stop producing talent, and the 2009 class should be no exception.